A
suite of four new works by New Zealand native Greg Semu follow strongly
in line with his larger body of work. Critical themes for the artist
of Pacific Island heritage are cultural displacement due to colonial
impact. The new works, The Last Supper, jabs at the colonial impact on
spiritual beliefs of the native New Zealanders and come just behind
work, Battle of the Noble Savage, that dealt with physical colonization
by Europeans. These works all address the critical question- who indeed
is the savage?

The works are dynamic and powerful. Borrowing from iconic religious
paintings of the western world the images come invested with meaning
that cuts back at its own roots.